2025

Expectations.

At its core, a practice match is about preparation and testing game plan adjustments, giving coaches a chance to assess players, and experimenting with different combinations to shape the best lineup to start the year. The scoreboard and final result don’t concern me, the real value comes from the process, just as it did throughout 2024.

The good to great.

After finishing the 2024 season with a marginally positive differential in stoppage clearances, Essendon’s dominance in the first quarter, winning the count 8-0, was an early statement. A more balanced setup around the ruck contests was evident, with Draper’s tap work a clear feature. His positioning and leap allowed him to direct the ball effectively to his midfielders, setting the tone early.

Caldwell was electric to start, involved in four scores in the opening term, two of which came directly from his clearances. Despite playing just over 28 minutes of game time, he earned eight contested possessions, including six at ground level. His delayed preseason clearly hasn’t hindered his ability to win the ball at the source.

Tsatas and Hobbs carried that momentum throughout the game, combining for 16 clearances and 25 contested possessions. For Tsatas, it was a continuation of the development I noted during the preseason.

From My 2024 Review of Tsatas:

“I’d like to see him become more involved in possession chains, find more ‘easy’ ball, and take on the game with more run and carry to gain territory before disposal. Too often, he seems to feel obligated to hand off to teammates who are ultimately in worse positions than he is, when he should instead take the space ahead of him.”

Of Tsatas' 30 possessions, 17 were uncontested. While the contest is important to any midfielder's game, the most pleasing aspect for me was his ability to link up when the game was flowing and in motion. He looked to take the ball forward rather than just feeding teammates because of 'who they are.' You take the responsibility Elijah.

Rubber stamped. Part one.

The first quarter perfectly illustrated the importance of punishing the opposition when the opportunity arises. It starts with positioning, then decision-making, and finally, execution to maximise the scoreboard impact. Martin and Durham exemplified this, both in the air and at ground level, showcasing their ability to hurt the opposition. Between them, 12 score involvements and eight inside 50s from 36 disposals, a strong foundation to build on for the season ahead.

Rubber stamped. Part two.

The second half highlighted the effectiveness of having three small forwards operating in the front half. After rotating through the midfield and defence early, Merrett spent an extended time forward alongside Gresham and Kako as the game progressed. The result? Five second-half goals between Gresham and Kako, demonstrating the damage a two-three combination can inflict. Their ability to apply ground-level pressure while also finishing opportunities was a standout, none more so than Kako’s third goal—created directly from Merrett’s defensive pressure and tackle, which forced a spill and led to a clean snap.

Pleasantly surprised.

Despite it being only a practice game, and considering recent durability issues, seeing Reid play 91% of the game time and Draper 84% should be confidence-building. Add to that Kako’s 86%, and Jones and Shiel's 83% and 81%, respectively.

It’s encouraging to see greater awareness in key moments, whether it’s a direct instruction from the coaches at halftime or an adjustment made by the players themselves late in games. Langford’s move to defence in crucial moments last year was a smart decision, and it should continue into this season. While both he and the coaches had learning moments throughout 2024, the more exposure he gets to these pressure situations, such as in the practice match, the better the long-term benefits will be.

The first-quarter scoreboard dominance was built on territory, which itself stemmed from clearance. But when both of those dried up in the second quarter, and transition from behind centre became necessary, the run, creativity, and dare I had seen throughout preseason were missing. The most pleasing aspect, however, was that this was obviously acknowledged at the main break. After halftime, there was a clear shift in urgency to move the ball, whether through quicker decision-making or using hands to create once a mark was taken.

Previously, Ridley has been conservative and safe by foot, often opting for short or sideways kicks for ball retention. This time, his decisions were quick, forward, and proactive. He wasn’t hesitant to receive by hand and initiate ball movement, a clear sign of growth.

The recognition of what changed in the second quarter and the willingness to rectify it was pleasing to see.

One of my biggest frustrations last year was the imbalance in defensive priorities, both individually and structurally. The forward press was largely effective in preventing opposition rebound, but once the first layer of defence was broken, there was little support behind it.

In my season preview, I emphasised the importance of having multiple defensive layers, and this game provided my first glimpse of how that can work. McKay’s role as a constant deep defender, with support from teammates positioned ahead of him to add extra layers rather than pushing too high up the ground, was a significant shift. Based on what I saw, I’m confident in this structural setup moving forward.

Some quick fire positives.

- Pressure and tackling at the coalface of the contest.

- Forward 50 ground ball.

- Change of direction and the wing's positioning out wide.

- Accuracy.

- Roberts at ground level and calmness with the ball in hand.

- Bryan’s impact in the air and in possession chains.

Areas for Improvement, as expected.

With this being the first “proper” hit-out at a pressure rate closer to regular-season intensity, some improvement in touch and feel is expected to take time. However, fumbles, both from midfielders and defenders, need to be addressed quickly. Panic under pressure was evident at times, particularly from experienced players who should be more composed. Shiel and McGrath, in particular, will need to sharpen their decision-making in dangerous areas closer to the opposition’s goal.

Duursma is a much better-skilled kick than what he showed, and while Hobbs won plenty of the ball, his disposal needs to be more reliable.

While the added defensive layers have been promising so far, even within the small sample size of 80 minutes, the effectiveness of the “plus one” or the extra player behind the ball still needs improvement. This was an issue last season, and the sooner it’s rectified, the better.

On multiple occasions, off the back of territory gained through clearance or transition, McKay, Reid, Ridley, and Hayes had the advantage in the air by outnumbering Geelong, but too many times, that ended up as a contest halved in the Cats' favour. I'd like to see these situations won more consistently. The setup from the coaches is spot on, and the players ahead have done their part. It's just a matter of regularly winning the ball back through that setup.

Quote taken from my training report November 20th 2024.

…”The ball is constantly in motion via quick hands but is moving forward instead of sideways and backward. It’s forcing players to be on the move to receive and have multiple possessions in chains rather than giving off and not following up.

I certainly hope this intent persists. It not only creates space around the players in motion but also encourages those ahead to move and anticipate where the ball is likely to go. This change will challenge decision-making on who to give it to and when to kick, while also testing the forwards’ timing in starting their leads.”

After the first quarter, it appears that this trend will become a staple of Essendon's strategy in 2025, and I’m quite pleased with that. The more this is practiced in-game, the more experience the team will gain in identifying the right players to link with and timing. This aspect of the game will likely take the longest to master, it's the most significant shift in the team's approach and is essential for the more dynamic ball movement I'm eager to see.

Some quick fire points on what needs work, again, as expected.

- McKay needs to find his touch and get up to the speed of the game.

- Opposition's handball game in transition.

- Defensive 50 ground ball.

- Jones's positioning as a defensive wing.

Structure.

The biggest structural difference from the match simulation and now the practice match has been in the forward line’s positioning. One aspect of it is a clear positive, while the other still needs refinement, which is understandable given it has only been implemented across eight quarters so far.

The key forwards are starting deep, with the biggest gain being more space for both themselves to lead into and for their teammates ahead to carry the ball through.

This is particularly evident between the midway point of the ground and the 50-metre line, reducing congestion and theoretically leading to greater efficiency in finding targets or allowing smaller forwards to work into space.

However, this setup has also created an issue, too often, there hasn’t been a tall target acting as a connection piece between the back half and the forward half when needed. Against Geelong, Duursma frequently found himself as the primary down-the-line option, serving as a “bail-out” target. As the game progressed, Bryan started to fill this role while playing as a ruck, providing a valuable link. While it was pleasing to see him get involved in this way, relying on a ruckman to play this role consistently isn’t a sustainable solution. Moving forward, I’d like to see Essendon’s key forwards present higher up the ground, particularly in moments when the game isn’t being played on the Bombers terms, such as in the second quarter against Geelong.

Now the real stuff.

This performance, while promising in many aspects, is just one small step in a long season.

While there were clear positives, there are also areas that need improvement, as expected at this stage of the year.

It’s important to temper expectations. No single game, especially a preseason hit-out, defines what’s to come. What matters most is how Essendon builds on this, ensuring that the good moments become consistent habits and the weaker moments are addressed.

The signs are there for growth. The key now is continuing to develop cohesion, executing under pressure, and ensuring that these game plan tweaks hold up as the intensity rises.